Fish spinal bone removal tool

ABSTRACT

A method for the removal of the spinal bones from fish, such as freshwater fish, by positioning an annular member, such as a ring attached to a shaft, around the spine of a deheaded fish and forcing it along the spine from the head portion to the tail portion of the fish, to thereby detach the spinal column from the torso of the fish and then pulling out the detached spinal column. The fish preferably has its tail cut off prior to the operation. A device for carrying out the method consists of a ring attached to a shaft with its plane extending substantially transverse to the rod. Various sized rings may be detachable connected to the shaft which may be provided with a handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and tool for manually removing thespinal and other connected bones from fish and particularly fresh waterfish.

The manual removal of bones from fish is a tedious and messy procedurewhich often does not achieve complete bone removal.

An object of this invention is to provide a method and tool for thesimple and efficient removal of spinal and other bones from fish.

A further object of this invention is a method and tool that allows afishes spinal bones to be removed in one clean action thus eliminatingtime-consuming labor during processing preparations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a much cleaner filletingprocedure; reduced boning time and thus more hygienic, faster, safer andefficient alternative to conventional methods.

Applicant is not aware of any Prior Art disclosing or related to theinvention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention the spinal bones and bones attachedthereto are cleanly removed from the fish by de-heading the fish,preferably also cutting off its tail, positioning an annular member,preferably a ring which most preferably is attached to a shaft; aroundthe spine, at the head portion, and passing the annular member along thespine from the head to tail portion of the fish.

This causes all the bones attached to the spine to be collapsed againstthe spine and be separated with the spine from the remaining carcass.

The tool for effecting the method is preferably in the form of a ringmounted on a shaft which in turn may be mounted on a stand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1--Is a prospective view of an embodiment of a tool in accordancewith the invention.

FIG. 2--Is a side elevation of the tool shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3--Is a plan view of a stand for the tool shown in FIG. 1, and;

FIG. 4--Is a side elevation of the stand shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The head, tail and gut are first removed from the fish to be de-boned.The tool shown in FIG. 1 is preferably mounted upright on the standshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The ring at the end of the shaft may be exchangefor a different diameter ring depending on the size of the fish, bybeing slipped into the sleeve 1 provided on the shaft. A set ofvariously sized rings may be provided to accommodate the removal ofdifferent spinal sizes.

The cut end of the spinal column at the gill portion of the fish isinserted into the top of the ring and the fish is pushed down over thetool until the spinal column passes through being completely separatedfrom the flesh and detached. The spine and the tool may then be removedfrom the fish.

The shaft if desired may be provided with the fish scale remover 2.

While the invention has been described with reference to the specificembodiments, various changes and modifications will become apparent tothe skilled artisan. The invention is only intended to be limited by theappended claims or their equivalents.

What I claim is:
 1. Method for the removal of the spinal bones fromfish, which comprises positioning an annular member around the spine ofa deheaded fish; forcing said annular member along the spine from thehead to tail portion of the fish to thereby detach the spinal column,and thereafter pulling out the spine.
 2. Method according to claim 1, inwhich said annular member is in the form of a ring mounted on the end ofa rod with its plane extending substantially transverse to the rod. 3.Method according to claim 2 in which said fish is a freshwater fish. 4.Method according to claim 1 in which said fish is one having had itstail removed.
 5. A device for carrying out the method of claim 1,comprising a stand, a shaft vertically mounted on said stand, a ringattached to the free end of the shaft with its plane substantiallytransverse to the axis of the shaft, said ring being of a sizesufficient to encircle the spine of a fish and detach the spine uponbeing passed along it, said ring being free of any cutting edges. 6.Device according to claim 5 in which said ring is detachable connectedto said shaft, and including at least one different size ring forattachment to said shaft.